U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio today announced he will not seek re-election in 2022. DeFazio is currently chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has served 36 years in the House of Representatives. He is the longest-serving House Member from Oregon and the 65th-longest-serving member of the House in U.S. history. In making his announcement, DeFazio stated it was a tough decision during a challenging time, but it was time to pass the baton to the next generation. He intends to focus on his health and well-being. He believes the passion and principles of his colleagues in Congress and the ingenuity and determination of young Americans who are civically engaged and working for change make it the right time.
DeFazio is credited with the largest expansion of Wild and Scenic Rivers in the lower 48 states and restoring the Coquille Tribe’s federal recognition. He was also instrumental in banning the export of logs from federal lands to protect old-growth forests. His other credits include Increasing federal investment in America’s infrastructure by more than $550 billion, improving the federal highway funding formula to bring an additional $1.3 billion for Oregon for roads, bridges, and surface transportation projects, and unlocking up to $3 billion annually in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to increase small harbor funding by 50 percent.